2019 RAM 1500 vs 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD

Sometimes you have to stop and consider just how far full-size trucks have come. I've said this before, but trucks have evolved from basic work vehicles to comfortable family haulers. Once the home of bench seats and crank windows, full-size pickups are now available with creature comforts that one might expect to find in a luxury vehicle. These are all to make the truck more comfortable for daily commuting while retaining its capabilities for the weekend warrior.

Ram has really owned the commuter-truck concept dating back to 2009, which was the first 1500 to swap out rear leaf springs for a multi-link rear suspension. This was a big moment in trucks, signaling the inevitable creep toward commuter trucks. The public has responded, and not just toward Ram—Ford, Chevy, GMC, and the rest of the pickup market have been making their trucks more and more comfortable. Trucks have gotten more expensive as they've become more comfortable, yet people keep buying them at ever-increasing price points.

And the 2019 Ram 1500 takes that everyday commuter-truck concept to new heights. This truck offers more comfort and refinement than any truck we’ve ever driven. But the real question is: Has it moved too far into the comfort zome, or can it perform the jobs of both a daily driver and a workhorse?

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The last decade has been pretty wild for the auto industry. Technologies that were previously rarities reserved for high-end luxury options, such as touchscreen infotainment systems, navigation, and driver-assistance systems, have all become commonplace. For some brands, these features are included even in base trims. The past 10 years have seen incredible advancements in electric cars, and we are inching ever closer to actual self-driving, autonomous cars.

The last 10 years have also been the decade of do-it-all vehicles. The car-based crossover is a shining example of this, bridging capability and comfort. Family sedans like the Toyota Camry are now sporty sedans, and the Ford Explorer is as effective a family hauler as it is a police vehicle.

The expectation that vehicles will do a little bit of everything extends to the pickup-truck market, but that’s only part of what fueled the pickup-truck arms race of the previous decade. No other vehicle segment enjoyed more gains in the past 10 years than light-duty and heavy-duty pickups. From power and towing capabilities to cabin quality, the latest crop of trucks is better than ever. Today's truck plays the roles of worksite workhorse and family commuter vehicle.

The 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD is an inevitable conclusion to this arms race. It has pushed every truck attribute to its max and can handle countless different roles, even if the “affordability” aspect has left the station. Read on to learn if the Silverado 2500HD is worth its potentially steep price, and learn which trim of the Silverado 2500HD CarGurus recommends.